Alright, so lately I really wanted to find a chef gig close to home, you know? Skip the crazy commutes. Everybody online’s yelling “use job sites!” but honestly? That felt like shouting into a void. Gotta share what actually worked for me, step by step.
Step 1: Getting My Chef Stuff Ready
First thing, my old resume was kinda crappy. Looked like I just slapped duties together.
- Chopped all the fluffy stuff: Seriously, deleted all the “passionate team player” nonsense. Made it straight to the point.
- Shoved the good bits up top: Places I cooked, places I helped run the line, that kinda thing. Right at the very top, easy to see.
- Killed the “Duties:” Instead of “Responsible for cooking pasta,” wrote “Smashed out 200 pasta dishes during Saturday dinner crush.” Shows the work, not the job description.
- Printed ugly but clean copies: Went to the library, printed like 30 copies on decent paper. Nothing fancy, just clean and easy to read.
Step 2: Actually Going Places Instead of Just Clicking
Here’s where most folks stop, but this is where I actually started getting calls back.
- Made a damn list: Looked up “restaurants near me,” cafes, pubs, even fancy places. Didn’t care if they were hiring online. If it had a kitchen, it went on my list.
- Timed it right: Went knocking between lunch and dinner, like 2:30 to 4 PM. Managers are actually around, not buried in tickets.
- Dressed clean, not fancy: Black pants, chef coat over a clean tee. Looked ready to jump on the line, not for an office meeting.
- Asked for the Chef: Walked in, looked the host in the eye, said “Hey, is the Head Chef around? Just wanted to drop off my resume.” Simple, direct.
- When I saw the Chef: Kept it short. “Hey Chef, [my name]. Looking for cook work nearby. Got experience on saute, grill, prep. Here’s my resume. Mind if I leave it?” Handed it over. Didn’t beg.
- Places where Chef was busy/out: Said “No problem!” to whoever was there (host, manager), asked their name, said “Cool. Mind giving this to the Chef? Thanks!” Made a quick note on my list about who I gave it to.
Yeah, felt weird at first. Got ignored a couple times. Whatever. Did this for maybe 15 spots over two days. Way better energy than firing off 100 online apps to nowhere.
Step 3: Talking to People Who Talk to Chefs
Forgot how much local stuff gets passed along via gossip, honestly.
- Hit up my cooking buddies: Texted a couple cooks I knew locally. “Yo, know any places needing cooks near [my neighborhood]?”
- Told the butcher guy: The dude at my local meat shop? Chatted while buying chicken thighs. “Hey man, you hear any restaurants needing cooks lately?”
- Even asked the beer delivery guy: Saw him stocking at a bar, bought him a soda water. “Heard any kitchens hiring?”
Seems silly? Got a solid lead this way that wasn’t posted anywhere. Just someone saying “Oh yeah, heard The Rusty Spoon was looking.”
The Payoff (Because Stuff Actually Happened!)
Started getting calls. Within a week.
- Got an interview at that bistro where I left my resume because the saute guy quit suddenly.
- The pub Chef called – he remembered me coming in, liked that I made the effort, said I seemed keen.
- Heard back about that Rusty Spoon lead through my network and set something up.
The online stuff? Still crickets.
The big takeaway for me? Getting a chef job close by isn’t magic. It’s doing the basic stuff nobody seems to want to do anymore: Making your resume say “I cook,” getting your feet on the street and talking to actual people who work in actual kitchens, and letting the folks who supply those kitchens know you’re looking. It’s not flashy, just works. Good luck if you try it!
